Really dumb question but...

[not_so_new]

Really dumb question I know.

I have never really tried to trouble shoot anything that is acting up. I have built a few kits here and there but I am by no means an electronic wizard by any stretch.

I just picked up a used Randall MTS module, an XTC to be exact and it seems to be broken (and the seller is not responding to my email). Anyway I put the thing in my RM4 chassis and it will not light up. I checked that the tubes are seated, I tried new tubes, I tried all the slots in my RM4, don't see any cold solder joints or obvious damage to any components but the XTC will not turn on or pass audio.

My question is... where would I start if I wanted to try and track it down on my own? I figure I only paid $115 for this thing, the circuit looks pretty simple and I always wanted to learn how to fix things so this might be a good place to start... but I have no idea where to begin.

How do you guys go about the process. What should I look for and or test first?

Thanks!

[dementedchord]

well... if ya really gotta do it... after its been off for a while... oh yeah it's dead never mind.... then ya pull it apart and look for broken traces and bad solder joints... cant tell ya how often it comes down to mechanicals.... but then again its dead ... so ya gotta get it up first... i'm assuming youve replaced the fuse with the RIGHT one and it blew again?? then pull all the tubes being carefull to lay them out so you get them back in the same order... and try to power up... if it blows you got supply problems.... in increasing order of cost and decreasing liklyhood....
1.diodes
2. filter caps
3 tranny
assuming now that it didnt blow again... power down and wait a while... (the filters have to discharge) now take some small tool (i use a dental pick) and try to close up the contacts a little on the sockets (dont do too much just so the tube gets snuggged) not a bad idea at this point to sprayem with some cleaner too...
now start replacing the tubes back into their sockets... stopping between inserting to see if that one blows the fuse... do the outputs last... if its a blown tube its almost always them anyhow.... and if that dont work ... i dont wanna hear about it...